Multiple flights operated by SpiceJet on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad route were delayed by several hours, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded at the airport overnight. Frustrated travellers raised slogans against the airline, with videos of the protest going viral on social media.
The disruption began on Wednesday when the 4:35 pm Ahmedabad-bound flight (SG 880) was cancelled. Another flight (SG 691), scheduled for 9:55 pm, was delayed by nearly five hours and finally departed at 2:55 am on Thursday.
Further delays continued, with an early morning flight scheduled for 2:20 am taking off at 5:17 am, over three hours late.
The Ahmedabad route was among several affected, as flights to Delhi, Bengaluru and Gorakhpur also faced delays and cancellations. Passengers reported long waiting hours, lack of clear communication and frequent changes in departure timings.
One of the worst-affected services was a Mumbai–Bengaluru red-eye flight that departed nearly nine hours late, while another Bengaluru flight and a Mumbai–Delhi service were eventually cancelled after extended delays. A flight to Gorakhpur was also called off.
Many passengers took to social media to express their frustration, sharing visuals of crowded departure areas and claiming inadequate support from airline staff. Some travellers said they had to book alternative tickets at high prices after cancellations.
In a statement, SpiceJet said the disruptions were due to operational issues, including aircraft grounding and bad weather at earlier locations, which also affected crew availability due to duty time limits.
According to recent data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the airline has recorded one of the lowest on-time performance rates among Indian carriers, with frequent delays and cancellations impacting passengers in recent months.